Exogenous phospholipid reduces postoperative peritoneal adhesions in rats.

OBJECTIVE

To find out if the previously described ability of phosphatidylcholine to reduce peritoneal adhesions is specific to it, or if other phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) or DL-phosphatidylcholine dilauryl (DL-PC) have similar effects.

DESIGN

Laboratory experiment.

SETTING

University hospital, Sweden.

MATERIALS: 160 rats which had had intraperitoneal adhesions induced at laparotomy by peritoneal defects repaired in one of two models.

INTERVENTIONS: PI was given intraperitoneally either once in a dose of 20 or 40 mg/rat at the end of the operation, or at the end of the operation and repeated on the second and third postoperative days. DL-PC was given once at the end of the operation in a dose of either 20 or 40 mg/rat.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adhesions were assessed a week after operation by an observer who was unaware of the treatment given.

RESULTS

PI given on three consecutive days significantly reduced adhesions formed postoperatively in both models (p < 0.05). Neither PI nor DL-PC given in a single dose of 20 mg/rat had any effect, whereas both PI and DL-PC given in single doses of 40 mg/rat significantly reduced adhesions (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both PI and DL-PC are effective in the prevention and limiting of postoperative adhesions in rats.